Text: 1 Samuel 25:2-38
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Ancient Society Did Not Properly
Esteem Women
 Wives were purchased
 Wives were kidnapped
 Wives were given as prizes
 Wives were used in idol worship
 Women could not inherit property (Ref. Num. 27)
 The disciples marveled that Jesus would speak to a
woman. (John 4:27)
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The Bible Taught Proper Respect
for Women
 Father and Mother are to be honored (Ex. 20:12; Deut.
27:16)
 Jesus surrounded himself with godly women (Luke 8:3)
 Godly women were with our Lord at Calvary (John
19:25)
 An excellent wife is the crown of her husband (Prov.
12:4)
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Text: 1 Samuel 25:2-38
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Abigail
 Intelligent
 Lit. of good understanding
 She was wise, prudent, and perceptive
 Beautiful in appearance
 Beautiful: To be fair, comely, beautiful
 Appearance: handsome in form, beauty.
 Beautiful inside and out
 1 Sam. 16:7; 1 Peter 3:3-4;
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Nabal
 Harsh—qaseh—to be hard, harsh, severe, to be hard,
difficult, firm, unyielding, stiff necked, hard-hearted,
stubborn, obstinate.
 Evil in his doings—habitual action.
 Calebite—means dog like, or shameless, character of a
man
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Applications from Abigail
 Abigail illustrates the pain in poor mate selection
 It may not be a sin to marry an unbeliever, but it is
unwise.
 Marry a believer not just a “pew warmer”
 Abigail’s plight was due to her marriage to Nabal
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Nabal was harsh and evil (v. 4)
Nabal was rude and offensive (v. 14-15)
Nabal was worthless and unapproachable (vv. 16-17)
Nabal was a man of folly (v. 25)
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Abigail Illustrates What Happens When
Men Fail to Lead in the Home
 The New Testament Teaches Male Spiritual Leadership
in the Home:
 God wants men to lead (Gen. 18:19)
 Wives are to submit (Eph. 5:22; Col. 3:18)
 Wives are to respect their husbands (Eph. 5:33)
 Fathers are to teach and train their children (Eph. 6:1-4)
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Abigail Illustrates What Happens When
Men Fail to Lead in the Home
 Due to Nabal’s lack of spirituality Abigail had to
take the lead in her home.
 The servants looked to Abigail in time of crisis (vv. 14-17)
 Abigail prepared provision for the salvation of her home
Abigail illustrates that it is possible
(vv. 18-19)
for
a
godly
women
to
fulfill
her
role
in
 Abigail plead with, admonished and encouraged David
the home (Eph. 5:22) and exercise
(vv. 24-31)
great influence and leadership in her
home (ref. Acts 5:29; Acts 16:1-2; 2
Tim. 1:5)
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Abigail Was Placed in an
Unenviable Situation
 She made a major decision concerning the welfare of
her household without consulting her husband. (vv.
18-19)
 Godly women today are put in unenviable situations:
 When husbands will not fulfill their roles in the home
 When husbands bring strong drink into the home
 When husbands refuse to allow hospitality to be
practiced in their home
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Abigail Loved Her Husband
Unconditionally
 “But he does not love me!”
 God commands wives to love their husbands (Titus 2:4-5)
 Nabal was hard to love:
 He was harsh and evil (v.4)
 He was rude and offensive (vv. 14-15)
 He worthless and unapproachable (vv. 16-17)
 He was a man of folly (v. 25)
 Abigail came to terms with her husband’s character (vv. 25-26),
and she still acted in his best interest.
 It is women like Abigail who will have the best opportunity to
convert their unbelieving husband. (1 Pet. 3:1-2)
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Abigail Admonished and Encouraged
David to Continue in Godly Behavior
 David was a good man. (Ref. Acts 13:22)
 David was overreacting. (1 Sam. 25:28-31)
 Do not shed blood without cause (31)
 This will cause you grief later (31)
This is the type of person that you need to
marry! One who will love you
unconditionally. One who will encourage,
admonish and even rebuke you when
needed. Marry an Abigail not a Nabal!
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Abigail Illustrates that Godly
Women Are Worthy of Praise
 David praises God for Abigail (v. 32)
 David praises Abigail for her judgment (v.33)
 David praises Abigail (v.33)
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Today Is Mother’s Day
 Have you praised the worthy women in your life?
 Women who are willing to exercise a spiritual influence
for good when no one else will.
 Women who are sometimes put in unenviable situations
because of their husband’s shortcomings.
 Women who love unconditionally.
 Women who encourage, admonish and rebuke.
 These are worthy of praise! (Prov. 31:10, 30-31)
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